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One Warning Sign Resulted in Quadruple Bypass Surgery for Seemingly Healthy Patient

At 55-years-old, Doug Winters headed into a regular checkup appointment fully expecting to walk out of the doctor’s office with a clean bill of health.  His provider recommended routine tests, including his first colonoscopy.

During the procedure, Kyle Johnson, PA-C, noticed elevated blood pressure and ordered a stress test.

During the stress test, Winters walked for a long time and could not get his heart rate up. The team at Utica Park Clinic immediately identified an issue and examined the cause, finding a serious blockage in three areas in his heart. Johnson and his team... Read More »

Should You Consider a Heart Scan After Having COVID-19?

As a result of new information regarding the relationship between the cardiovascular system and COVID-19, there’s a lot of discussion around considering a heart scan after recovery. Answers vary depending on the individual and the severity of their COVID-19 infection.

If you had a mild case, or you were asymptomatic, experts do not believe it’s necessary to get a heart scan before resuming activity. However, for individuals who had a severe case of COVID-19, or for those who were hospitalized with the virus, it’s advised that you do not return to normal activity, especially... Read More »

Precautionary Test Led to Emergency Triple Bypass Surgery for One Glenpool Resident

A few weeks before Christmas 2019, Deborah Timmons, 69, decided she wanted to look into getting a hearing aid. Since she had recently moved to Glenpool, she figured she’d establish a new primary care provider closer to home.

At her first appointment, her new provider advised some tests as a routine precaution– an EKG, blood work, a coronary angiogram – typical tests for a woman over 50 to get done when establishing a new primary care provider. Timmons was reluctant at first but continued with the tests.

On Dec. 21, Timmons completed the list of preliminary tests and received... Read More »

Goal Weight Achieved: How One Woman Found Success with Proven Methods and Support

Shelley Sauter, director of capital and contracts at Hillcrest Medical Center, felt she was constantly trying new diets and health fads, thinking the next method might be the answer to sustained results. However, she continued coming up short. Sauter was stuck on the first page of her weight loss journey, having to rewrite the same chapter over and over again.

“Through the years, I watched the scale slowly increase, and each pound symbolized a new milestone,” Sauter said. “I kept asking myself, ‘What is the limit?’, but nothing ever changed. Every day was a new day with a new weight... Read More »

Oklahoma Doctor Becomes Patient’s Preferred Provider

Fifteen years ago, Gene Mills, 73, began experiencing his heart beating out of rhythm.

“If I laid in bed it would keep me awake,” said Gene. “I slept in a recliner for years. When my heart would beat out of rhythm, I would become tired and winded quickly. Early on exercise would stop it but later on exercise made it worse.

After appointments with rhythm specialists, in 2005, he received a diagnosis. Mills had an atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation.

“The doctor told me that my atrial flutter was dangerous and that I needed to take care of it right away,” Mills shared... Read More »

Oklahoma Heart Institute's Commitment to Care

While the global spread of COVID-19 has made a tremendous impact on everyday lives, Oklahoma Heart Institute’s (OHI) commitment to your health and safety remains unchanged. To continue in our vigilance to protect you and our staff from infection, the following practices have been implemented at all OHI locations.

ENTRANCE: Everyone who enters a Oklahoma Heart Institute facility has their temperature checked. This applies to every physician, staff member, patient, guest and vendor. To prevent the spread of any germs, everyone is provided with an ear-loop mask. All are required to... Read More »

Heart Valve Disease Awareness: Why it Matters

Heart valve disease is one of the most common cardiac issues. Would you believe us if we told you as many as 11 million Americans are currently living with the disease?

Unfortunately, not many people know about heart valve disease. According to a recent study, three out of four Americans know little to nothing about heart valve disease. Let’s change that statistic.

Healthy heart valves keep blood flowing in the right direction while carrying oxygen and nutrients to the body. Heart valve disease is caused when one or more of the valves doesn't open or close properly, which... Read More »

Sit less, move more for your heart

Americans sit an average of 10 hours each day.

Let that sink in.

Extended sitting, whether it be at a desk, behind the wheel or in front of a screen can put serious strain on your heart. Research has linked sitting for long periods of time with higher risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke and other heart-related problems.

Take a look at your work day or even your typical day off. If you can’t remember when you got up from the chair or couch, then it’s time to get moving.

The best thing you can do to counteract the harms of sitting is to get up every... Read More »

Fact: Overindulging in alcohol can result in an irregular heartbeat

Celebrating the season to be merry with too much alcohol can put your heart health at risk.

Overindulging in alcohol can result in an irregular heartbeat, according to Wayne Leimbach, M.D., medical director of Oklahoma Heart Institute.

“Too much alcohol intake can trigger a holiday heart event,” said Leimbach. “Holiday heart attacks are heart rhythm disturbances often triggered by excessive alcohol intake. Some can be lethal, but more commonly, many can change your holiday plans to a stay at the hospital.”

Leimbach encourages individuals to keep their alcohol intake to... Read More »

Preventing holiday heart emergencies

It may be the most wonderful time of the year – but not always for your heart.

“The holidays are a time for being with our families and a time of joy for many,” said Wayne Leimbach, M.D., medical director of Oklahoma Heart Institute. “But, because of the stress, fatigue and frequent overindulgence, the holiday season can also trigger heart attacks.”

Studies suggest more cardiac emergencies happen during the winter holiday season (December and January).

There are a few things you can do to minimize your risk of holiday heart attack, according to Leimbach.

“... Read More »